Synchro compatibility/availability?

[John Syracuse]

Okay, so one of the things not right on my Elan, the third gear synchro is on its way, fourth is just starting. I have little familiarity with the Elan tranny, just the 30,000 ft question if anyone just so happens to know the answer, does it share the same synchros with any Isuzu with a 4X motor? Comparing the gear ratios between the Geo Storm and the Lotus Elan, it looks as if I might have high hopes on that one...

Either which way, anyone else ever had to procure synchros for their tranny and if so, how much luck have you had?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

[superbad]

Welcome, I think Denver has the highest per capita M100 ownership in the country now.

Are you sure it's the synchros? I had a crunchy 2nd to 3rd shift that I thought was a bad synchro. One of my shifter cable ends broke a few weeks ago, and after installing Bob Brown's stainless cables and short shift kit, the shift quality is perfect. I think I just wasn't getting full travel at the gearbox end because the plastic cable end was on its way out.

Even if you do need to replace synchros, replacing those cables and going to the short shift mechanism should be very near the top of your to do list.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

The GEO, Chevrolet and Isuzu as well as several other cars use the same "design" gearbox. There are two different types of syncro - Separate and combined, so you will need to look at yours and then you will know which type you have. The ratios are different between the different cars but the bearings, shafts and syncros are the same as long as you are comparing the same style gearbox. There are several companies that offer "rebuild kits" for the different gearboxes. I will try to find a link so you can see which cars use which design.

[John Syracuse]

Compatibility of Storm/Impulse synchros with the Elan is the most refreshing news I've heard all day! I know they are the same "design" more or less, however tearing open a transmission is one of the few things I've never done with my Storm. A link for tranny rebuild kits would be awesome. Awesome to the max!

I'm almost positive it's the synchros, I've driven vehicles with bad synchros before and it seems to have all the symptoms (will grind going into 3rd from any gear unless you allow the RPMs to drop low and gently shift in, has a small grind similar occasionally going into fourth also from any gear).

As for the cables, I"ll definitely have to have a look at it to figure out what is on the car already. This is only one of two Elan's I've ever driven, and it's shifter was not like the first. The first was very tall and had very long throws, this one seems shorter in shaft length and has much shorter throws. The first one was not unlike my Storm before I cut it down and rethread it to shorten it. I'll have to just have a look at it at some point. I appreciate the suggestion and will check it out!

Chris

[superbad]

I'm almost positive it's the synchros, I've driven vehicles with bad synchros before and it seems to have all the symptoms (will grind going into 3rd from any gear unless you allow the RPMs to drop low and gently shift in, has a small grind similar occasionally going into fourth also from any gear).

Same thing mine was doing. It would only shift cleanly on a really slow shift at low revs. If someone installed the short shift kit on your car and didn't replace the cables, the cable loads will be higher, and even more likely to be failing. Easy to check- just peek under there and see if you've got cracked plastic cable ends at the gearbox end.

[Rice crispy]

Also could try a gearbox oil change, I know Rip on here had problems and after an oil chane thin were much better

David

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Chris:

This is the page I found that lists the similar gearbox kits. I have NOT dug any deeper, but the list seems to help identify which cars used similar gearboxes and the two different syncro designs that appear to be intermixed in each production range. I believe they will supply individual components, but it is a good place to start.

http://www.drivetrain.com/parts_catalog ... 3_mk7.html